Bus preaching has been an on-going trend for quite a while now. There is nothing unfamiliar about hearing someone screaming on top of their lungs about the goodness of God or singing gospel for a while. Usually many of these individuals ask for donations directly after doing this. No, I am not trying to be offensive, but from what I have experienced this is the plain and simple truth.

While I was on a bus from Portmore to Downtown about one year ago, a man came on the bus at a particular bus stop. He proceeded to speak at full volume about the coming of God and what it will mean for the world. Then, all of a sudden, he shouted out about the brimstone that would fall on all homosexuals, particularly gay men (except he called them the B word-you know the one I mean). Then he went on to bellow (in not so proper language) about the dangers of being a prostitute (except he called them the W word-again you know the one I mean).

Okay, so never mind he shared his point of view about homosexuality and prostitution, but the language was just so crass and there were children on this bus. What kind of preacher is this I thought? I felt so uncomfortable the entire time.

What people need to understand is that while there may be genuine persons who want to really spread the gospel, there are others who use this medium as a means of gaining money. Additionally, I believe that if we allow persons to preach on buses at will, then this should be open to all religious groups-Catholic, Muslims and Rastafarians should all be able to share their religious beliefs through this medium too. Now, imagine the chaos when two persons of separate religious beliefs meet on one bus. (I could tell you a story about this too)

Anyway, this is only my opinion. Share your views. Go ahead and have your say…

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11 Responses to “Preaching on buses- (To be or not to be?)”

There should be no disruption of people’s peace while confined to a bus. This incudes preaching, telephone call, loud talking, singing, or music. If I want to listen to a sermon I want to be able to choose the time, place and preacher.

On a few occasions having not been picked up I decide to brave the JUTC, while I must say the
seats are decent and it would be a pleasure to ride and reflect its just not possible. I think
those with loud conversations, drivers playing loud radio, passengers having loud cell phone conversations, or those youngsters playing loud music from their gadgets & preachers should all be banned, because it is a public nusiance

Many declare “leave them because JA is a christian country”, heights of hypocrisy, all
these same ppl will kill a person who steal some food. They should not back down on this ban because most time it sounds like ppl throwing words or berating you instead of preaching.I have no problem with them preaching on the street but a locked bus from
Half Way Tree to Meadowbrook is too much. They would not allow the muslim or Hindus to do so.

Recently a man walked into an establishment to preach when told he’s disturbing others he hurled lots of curse words upon departing, its said he’s a crack-head thats how he gets money, they all ask for a donation after. Its
our constitutional right to not have to listen to the damnation & condemnations,also our impressionable youths are getting daily doses of this nonsence of hate that some of them preaches, enough already. I want to ride in peace if I have to and read my bible.

My issue is with the manner in which it is shared and the content of what is shared. A true bus preacher will be sensitive to the hearers and would never ask for a contribution, trusting God to provide for their needs.

Far too often we have beggars disguising themselves as preachers of the Gospel. It is important for us to know the Truth and the Truth wil set us free.

We must be as wise as serpents regarding the interactions with have with such persons and , using the skills of Grace afforded us in the written word of God, seek a peaceable manner with which to approach the speaker, if need be.

The choice of when and where to hear the Gospel matters little in the face of when and where to face death and our Maker, hence the urgency in spreading the message at any and all times.

As St. Francis of Assissi has said, Preach at all times and when necessary, use words…
I agree

first clovis cartoon is
wrong its only the
other buses they
gaza and gully god
loud music
jutc
play a diffrent kind a noise
preacher them only want
see a rasta them them
place them self
beside him [rasta]
throw pure word
ban them

The preachers can preach on the
streets and at terminals for on
the bus their spit fly and them
talk a lot about sex, then want
donations; that should stop on
the bus for true, also the sellers
that push you out the way to go
sell should get ban from jumping
up unto the buses.

haven’t we more important things to do?let the preachers be!We are always majoring in the minors and minoring in the majors.fix the czar,technical and other logistical problems then and only then shall the so-called nuances be attended to.O how our spirits have departed from us,from what shall we derive our directions?

THE RELEVANCE OF ALL THIS BACK AND FORTH AND KEEPING THIS FOOLISNESS INTHE NEWS FOR SO LONG ALLOWING THE VERU COMICAL PICTURE OF JAMAICAS CIVIL SERVANTS IN THE NEWS EVERY DAY FOR NO SENSIBLE REASON. ALL THIS IS CLOUDING THE REAL ISSUES TO BE DEALT WITH AND TO INFORM AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. I WROTE BEFORE THAT YOU WILL SEE AMRS LOCKED BY THE PURVEYORS OF THE NEWS IF ANYONE DARE TO MENTION THEN IN COMTEMPT ; HAVE YOU NOTICED THE LOW LEVEL AND MOST TIMES SHODDY STYLE IN REPORTING ? LOOK AGAIN AND YOU WILL SEE . NO ONE SEEM TO HAVE THE GUTS TO INVESTIGATE, RESEARCH AND WRITE THE TRUTH IN THE FINDINGS BUT THE LINE-UP BECOMES VERY INTERESTING SO LONG AS THERE IS A FUNCTION TO HONOR AND TO GIVE OUT TOKENS AND TROPHIES FOR THE WORK DONE WHICH BARELY GAVE ENOUGH ,SUFFICIENT OR TRUTH THE THE SOCIETY AT LARGE.THERE CANNOT BE A REFFERENDUM ON EVERYTHING , CIVILLY SPEAKING EVERYONE HAVE A RIGHT TO ENJOY THE LAND GODLY OR DEEMED UNGODLY AND THE LAW OF THE LAND SHOULD PREVAIL AND YES IT WILL ALWAYS BE AGREED ON BY ALL BUT ITS THE LAW …PREACH IN YOUR CHURCH OR IN AND OPEN SPACE AND INVITE PEOPLE TO COME AND BE AMONG YOU , DONT HOLD PEOPLE HOSTAGE COMPETING WITH LEWDNESS IN OTHER PLACES SHOUTING AND SCREAMING AT THE SAME DECIBELS OF THE SOUND SYSTEMS AT A COST TO MY EARS.I DONT LIKE EITHER IT SHOULD STOP.THERE IS ALREADY “NO SPEECH NOR LANGUAGE WHERE THE VOICE IS NOT HEARD”.

I totally disagree with these people getting on buses with loud preaching and using crass names. In winning souls you must be wise. Some of these people are motivated by other spirits other than the Holy Spirit and some are just not using wisdom. People have a right to get on a bus and have peace and quiet so they can gather their thoughts. In the US they would never pull that stunt they would be put off so fast they wouldn’t know what happened. I am not against preaching but come on, at the top of your voice on a crowded bus, not appropriate.